Q. Dear Dr Caplan, I am a 23yr old female with severe gum disease. As a teen I had been initially refused orthodontic treatment on the NHS, due to the poor condition of my gums. I had lost faith in my dental care and hid away from my dental problems. As an adult I now realise how much my teeth have affected me mentally. I am so depressed about my crowded and crooked teeth, I find it hard to talk to people let alone smile incase they notice my ugly teeth. I have become a social recluse and feel so alone because of being scared to show my teeth. Since my teens I have had a patchwork of different work done by different dentists and my mouth now looks a mess. There are badly fitted miscoloured crowns on my UL2 and UR1. However, my gums have improved a lot. They are now a pinkier shade, compared with the liver red that it used to be. Also, the teeth and gums are a lot less sensitive. Do you think that there is any chance that I could get treated privately? Will private dentists/orthodontists refuse to treat me due to my gum disease? Or is that just an excuse for the NHS to refuse me due to their overstretched waiting lists? I am grateful for your reply, as I feel so lost and desperately want to sort out my teeth once and for all.,